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Note to: Catfish Farmers and Processors The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after receiving cooperation from the states and the catfish industry, now believes that the problem associated with dioxin in catfish has been resolved for those farmers and processors receiving feed from Arkat Feeds, Dumas, AR; Fishbelt Feeds Inc., Moorhead, MS; Producers Feed Company, Isola, MS; S.F. Services, Greenville, MS; and Topwater Feed Mills, Wisner, LA. On July 3, 1997, FDA told animal feed manufacturers who previously had been voluntarily withholding contaminated animal feed to stop the further distribution and use of this feed. On July 7, 1997, FDA told commercial catfish producers not to ship human food products produced from or by animals that had eaten animal feed contaminated with dioxin. These actions were taken as a result of a specific problem associated with feed containing _ball clay_ (from a single mine in Mississippi) found to be adulterated with high levels of dioxin. The FDA also announced that these producers could ship catfish if they met either of the following criteria: 1) they could demonstrate that they had not fed shipments of contaminated feed to fish, or 2) they could demonstrate, through testing, that the catfish contained levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) below 1.0 part per trillion (ppt) on an edible tissue basis. The requirement that catfish farmers must demonstrate that they have met one of the above criteria went into effect on July 20, 1997. Following the July 7, 1997 announcement, FDA and state officials met with catfish farmers and producers in the affected areas who requested assistance in developing a dioxin sampling and testing program for catfish and other food fish. On July 15, 1997, FDA was notified that the Catfish Institute and the Catfish Farmers of America had developed a sampling and analysis plan. Since then, FDA, the states, and industry have collaborated and worked intensively to collect and analyze composites of catfish. On July 23, 1997, FDA received sampling and analysis data from the states_ testing programs. These data showed that the composite catfish samples (taken from farms having received the contaminated feed) had TCDD levels below 1 ppt on an edible tissue basis. A conference call among FDA, the states, and industry was held on July 23, 1997, to discuss the results and determine a subsequent course of action. Consequently, FDA, the states and the catfish industry agreed that catfish raised on feeds produced during the period April 1 - June 25, 1997, by Arkat Feeds, Dumas, AR; Fishbelt Feeds Inc., Moorhead, MS; Producers Feed Company, Isola, MS; S.F. Services, Greenville, MS; and Topwater Feed Mills, Wisner, LA met FDA's Catfish Advisory and are suitable for sale. Based on its review of all available data, FDA is advising catfish farmers that catfish raised on the feeds produced by the above feed mills may now be processed with no further requirement for testing. This is consistent with the sampling and analysis plan developed by the Catfish Institute and the Catfish Farmers of America. There still exist a few feed mills and fish farms not covered by the results of the sampling and analysis plan reported to FDA on July 23, 1997. FDA will be working with these remaining mills and farms to resolve outstanding issues. FDA commends the catfish industry and the states for their commitment to working with the federal government in developing a sound and effective plan which assures that the catfish offered to the retail and consumer markets are not contaminated. FDA believes that the quick resolution of this problem is due, in large part, to actions it took earlier this month to stop the use of contaminated feed and the rapid response on the part of industry and the states. Stopping the use of the contaminated feed, and the rapid growth of pond-raised catfish during this time of year contributed significantly to reducing the levels of dioxin in the catfish that were sampled and tested and which are now coming to market. As part of this action, farmers are reminded that they are not to feed any remaining contaminated feed to their fish. FDA, in conjunction with USDA, EPA, and the states, continues its efforts to remove the contaminated feeds and other contaminated human foods, eggs, and other food fish from distribution and use. Additionally, farmers and processors should maintain proper records in accordance with good business practices. FDA is establishing a database of analytical results and will share this information with the states and industry as part of an ongoing effort to support future activities designed to assure the safety of catfish. Fred R. Shank, Ph.D. |